Difference between a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Resume

Ever wondered why some employers ask you for a resume whereas others demand CV when you apply for jobs? The primary reason behind this confusion is the interchangeable use of the terms CV and resume, in this part of the world. However, there are a few differences between the two types of application documents, so I decided to write an article to straighten out all your queries on this topic.

The most common difference between a CV and a resume is the length and what to include and what not, in each. Let’s discuss both in detail.

What Is a CV?

Curriculum Vitae is a Latin word which means ‘Course of Life’. This in-depth document can be laid out over two or more pages and as the name implies, it contains a high level of detail about your achievements, a great deal more than just a career biography. It comprises details of your skills and professional experiences. This is why the CVs are typically longer than resumes.

The CVs include details of one’s academic background, degrees, certifications, awards, publications, presentations and achievements. They offer more information, particularly related to a person’s academic background.

What Is a Resume?

As mentioned above, the resume provides a summary of your academic background, work history, credentials, skills and accomplishments. It also comprises optional sections such as objective and career statement. In short, while making a resume, you have to make sure to keep it as concise as possible.

Ideally, a resume is one page long for a person with up to 10 year experience however those with greater experience can extend a resume to two pages as well. The resumes typically include bulleted points to help keeping the information concise.

What do I need? A CV or a Resume?

Resumes are popular across United States and Canada whereas for the countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, the recruiters usually expect receiving CVs. Moreover, even within the US and Canada, people in academia and medicine tend to use CVs rather than resumes. So if you’re living in Pakistan, CV would be the right choice in my opinion, however if possible, you should ask the recruiter about what they’re expecting and send accordingly.

Importance of a Professionally Written CV

Your CV is your passport to employment. It is your first chance to make or break an impression on the potential employer, so never underestimate its importance. A number of recent surveys with the recruiters also prove the fact that the decision to interview or reject a candidate is purely made on the strength of the CV. So, if you want your CV to get you to the interview stage instead of ending up in the rejection pile, make sure to do a thorough CV audit before applying for a job. If you are uncertain of how to build a CV that gets you the right first impression and takes you to the interview stage, you can make use of professional CV writing services by Rozee.pk, Pakistan’s No.1 career portal.